The deputy head of the Russian Security Council announced, Thursday, that Russia will respond “symmetrically” to the increase in NATO’s military presence in Finland and Sweden, following the accession of two northern European countries to the Atlantic alliance.
According to Dmitriy Medvedev, who is also a former Russian president and prime minister, Finland and Sweden could choose “different ways” to install the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and be able to accept the establishment of bases in their respective territories. Contains offensive weapons.
Medvedev told the press, “Our response will be consistent with these steps” after a meeting dedicated to the security of the northwestern border and in the context of the possible entry of Stockholm and Helsinki to NATO.
The meeting, which took place in the Russian Karelia region, northwest of Russia and on the border with Finland, was attended by Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, and head of the Russian Security Service (FSB) Alexander Alexander. Bortnikov, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko and Head of the External Espionage Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin.
Medvedev defended that “the decision to join Finland and Sweden to NATO does not enhance the security of the region. On the contrary, it makes the situation more difficult because it is about ensuring the security of all.”
“In general, this undoubtedly leads to a deterioration of security in the Baltic region, which has essentially become a NATO-controlled sea. Russia’s reaction to these events will be all that is necessary and sufficient for our country and ensure the security of our citizens with the necessary means,” he added.
Medvedev assured that Moscow would review the “Paasikivi-Kekkonen Doctrine” of former Finnish President Juho Kosti Pasikivi (1946/56), supplemented by his successor Urho Kekkonen (1956/81), dated 1948, which aims to survive Finland as an independent capitalist state, Sovereign, democratic and close to the former Soviet Union (disappeared in 1991).
“Relations with neutral Sweden will also be reviewed,” he added.
Finland and Sweden both applied for NATO membership after the start of Russia’s military offensive on Ukraine in February of this year, despite traditional opposition to NATO membership.
Also today, Medvedev visited the border post of Vyartsilia, next to the Finnish border, where he inquired about the flow of freight transport between the two countries, which fell to the eighth due to sanctions against Russia.
“Sooner or later, the supply of goods will resume. Nobody canceled the money,” Medvedev said, expressing his conviction that the decline in trade is a “temporary phenomenon.”
Sweden and Finland, which temporarily guarantee the status of “invited” countries, will become full members of NATO only after the ratification of access protocols by the parliaments of the 30 countries that currently make up the Atlantic Alliance.
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